Top support used in combination with a book as a chance device



June 9, 1964 M. J. RUDERIAN v 3,136,549

TOP SUPPORT USED IN COMBINATION WITH A BOOK AS A CHANCE DEVICE FiledOct. 9, 1962 INVENTOR.

MAX J RUDERIA N W6? ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,136,549 TOPSUPPORT USED IN COMBINATION WITH A 300K AS A CHANCE DEVICE Max J.Ruderian, 545 Hanley, Los Angeles 49, Calif. Filed Oct. 9, 1962, Ser.No. 229,347 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-441) This invention relates generally toamusement devices and more particularly to a novel spinning device andbook combination in which a large variety of games may be played.

In my co-pending patent application Serial No. 222,776, filed September11, 1962, for Accessory for a top, there is described a unique holdingmeans in the form of an integral stamping enabling a top of generallyconical shape tobe easily supported and carried about. In another of myco-pending patent applications Serial No. 224,483 filed September 18,1962, for Accessory Device for Toys, there is described an improved topholding device also serving to support a rotatable type member such as aYo-Yo. In this connection, the holder serves additional functions ofsupporting the Yo- Yo so that it may be spun about a stationary axis, aportion of the stamping defining a pointer means to designate any one ofseveral markings on the periphery of the Yo-Yo. By this arrangement, theholder for the top and Yo-Yo serves dual functions in that it enables agame to be played in which a particular marking is designated, thismarking serving to designate a particular action for a player.

In still another of my co-pending applications Serial No. 222,854, filedSeptember 11, 1962 for Game Top, there is disclosed a top havingflattened side sections such that when it comes to rest after spinning,a particular marking will be visible.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention toprovide a yet further improved combination holder and game structure inwhich a far greater number of games may be played.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved holder for atop which also serves as a bearing support for the top in cooperationwith a book including various markings so that the top may be spun onits side to designate any one of the several markings on any one of theseveral pages of the book with which the holder is used. 1

A broader object of this invention is to provide a combination stampingand book structure together with a pointer means in which any one of aplurality of pages may be employed in conjunction with the stamping toprovide a bearing means for the pointer to the end that a wide varietyof games may be played.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a holding device in theform of a stamping which serves several different functions and yetwhich may be manufactured extremely economically.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this inventionare attained by providing a single integral stamping having a centralcutout area and including a portion defining a tongue extending into thecoutout 3,136,549 Patented June 9, 1964 may be may then be cradled bythe bearing means at the end of the tongue and spun so that the apex ofthe top or the pointer will come to rest in a position designating anyone of the particular markings on that page. This marking may beemployed to designate a particular action such as in a game of baseball,or other similar game. Alternatively, the markings may be of aneducational character wherein different foreign words are spaced about acentral point, and when the pointer or top comes to rest designating oneof the words, a player is required to translate the same.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the holder also serves tosupport the top to facilitate carrying the top about in a manner similarto that described in the above-mentioned co-pending application for anAccessory for a Top.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

- FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the single stampingconstituting part of the spinning game of this invention for supportinga top;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one manner inwhich the stamping of FIGURE 1 is employed in conjunction with a book toplay a game using the top; and,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating a modificationwherein a substitute pointing means is provided in lieu of a top incooperation with the stamping and book.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a top holder in the formof afiat stamping 10 including inner, curved, cutout edges 11 and 12extending upwardly and terminating in arcuate portions defining theperiphery of a circle 13. The extreme upper end of the circle includes asmall apex opening 14. The curved edges 11 and 12 together with theperipheral portion of the circle 13 define a central cutout area in thestamping 10 dimensioned to correspond at least in part to opposite sidesof a top 15. The apex portion 16 of the top 15 is received within theupper cutout 14 as shown.

The lower or base end of the top, which is generally conically shaped,includes a' slot-like cavity 17 to receive a tongue 18 forming anintegral extension of the sheet 10 within the cutout area. The tongue 18terminates in a concave end 18' forming part of the circle 13. Below thebase portion of the top, there is provided a small opening 19 in 'thestamping 10 adapted to receive an extra tip for the top.

With the above arrangement, the tongue 18 may be inserted within thecavity 17 of the top and the top area. The arrangement is such that thetongue may be flexed out of the plane of the stamping. The tongue itselfincludes a bearing means for supporting at least in part a pointer or atop so that the pointer or top may be spun.

Cooperating with the above stamping is a book including a plurality ofpages, each page including markings radially spaced from a center point.The arrangement is such that the tongue of the stamping may be flexedout of the plane of the stamping and the stamping inserted under any onepage with the tongue extending over the top of the page. The top orpointer as the case urged into the cutout area with the curved oppositeinner side edges 11 and 12 cradling the top as shown. Further securementof the top within the sheet 10 is achieved by providing a series ofnotches 20 and 21 on opposite exterior sides of the stamping 10 aboutwhich a top string 22 may be wound to straddle the upper portion of the,top as shown. The extreme end of the stamping 10 terminates in afastening means in the form of a pair of parallel slots 23 and 24 forreceiving a belt 25 of a person. The top together with an extra tip maythus be easily carried about. Referring now to FIGURE 2,, there isillustrated a book 26 having a plurality of pages such as indicated at27, 28, and 29. Each of these pages includes a diagram as 7 shown whichmay take the form of a series of markings 15 so that the same may beplaced on its side and spun about a vertical axis as indicated by thearrow. The apex 16 of the top will then come to rest opposite one of thevarious markings in the diagram 31 so that a game may be played. In thisconnection, a desired action such as in a baseball game may be dictatedby the particular marking'at which the apex of the top comes to rest.

It will be evident, of course, that the stamping may be repositioned tosandwich other pages so that different types of diagrams are availablefor use with the spinning top servingas a pointer.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated another means in which agame may be played wherein a pointer is employed instead of a top.Towards this end, the tongue portion is provided with a small opening18" spaced from the center of the circular diagram 31 a given distance.The diagram 31 is positioned towards the opposite side 27b of the page27by a distance a! different from the distance D of the diagram from thefirst side of the page 27a. This difference in distance equals the givendistance of the spacing of the opening 18" from the center of thediagram .31. By so positioning the diagram on the page in this manner,the stamping it) may be removed and inserted tosandwich the oppositeside of the page 2% therebetwecn as illustratedin FIG- URE 3. In thisposition, the opening 18" coincides with the center of the diagram 31and will serve as a bearing for a suitable bearing means 32 to support apointer member in the form of an arrow 33. The bearing member mayconstitute the extra tip 32 for the top of FIGURE 1 normally retainedwithin the opening 19. The pointer 33 itself may simply include a smallopening 33 intermediate its ends to receive the tip portion of thebearing member 32 and thus permit spinning of the pointer.

The operation of the spinning game and book combina-. tion will beevident from the foregoing description. With the stamping structure asdescribed in conjunction with FIGURE 1, the top 15 may easily be carriedabout on a users belt. The user, if he desires to play with the top,need only unwind the string 22, remove the top, and spin the top withthe string in a conventional manner. Further, if the user wishes to playa game, he may employ the book 26 shown in FIGURE 2 in cooperation withthe stamping Til to support the top on its sideand employ the top as apointer. Alternatively, and-as described in conjunction with FIGURE 3,another type pointer means may be employed with the same stampingstructure. The stamping, in addition to its function as a holder for thetop and as a bearing guide, may also be used as a simple book mark.

It should be understood that any other suitable means for supporting thebearing means could be used when the pointer is employed in lieu of thetop. Thus, the center of the pages may be provided with a hole toreoeive the top tip for supporting the pointer.

While only one particular embodiment of the invention hasbeen shown anddescribed, various modifications that fall within the scope and spiritof the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The spinnniggame and book combination are therefore not to be thought of as limitedto the exact embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A spinning game and book comprising, in combination: a stampinghaving a portion. adapted to be flexed out of the plane of saidstamping; a pointer means adapted 1 to be rotatably guided at least inpart by said portion;

and a book including at least one page having markings radially spacedfrom a center point, whereby said stamping may be inserted under saidpage with said portion extending over the top of said page and saidpointer means rotatably guided at least in part by said portion so thatit may be spun to come to rest in a position designating any one of saidmarkings.

2. A spinning game and book comprising, in combination: a flat stampinghaving a cutout area defining a tongue adapted to be flexed out of theplane of said stamping, the end portion of said tongue defining abearing means; a rotatable pointer member; and a book having a pluralityof pages each including markings radially spaced about a center point,whereby said stamping may be inserted under any one page with saidtongue extending over the top of said page and said pointer memberpositioned against said bearing means and spun to come to rest in aposition designating one of said markings to provide a game in whichcertain actions to be taken are dictated by the particular markingdesignated by said pointer member, said bearing means serving as a guidefor said pointer member when spun.

3. A spinning game and book comprising, in combination: a flat stampinghaving an internal cutout area and a tongue extendin into said area; atop of conical shape; and a book having a plurality of pages eachincluding a diagram with the various markings radially spaced from acenter point, said tongue including bearing means for cradling at leastinpart a side portion of said top, whereby said stamping may be insertedunder any one page with said tongue extending over the top of said pageand said top placed against said bearing means and spun on its side sothat its apex will come to rest in a position designating one of saidmarkings.

4. A spinning game and book, according to claim '3, in which said tonguehas an opening defining an additional bearing means adapted to support apointer.

5. A spinning game and book comprising, in combinationza flat stampinghaving an internal cutout area defining, at least in part, the peripheryof a circle,'said stamping including a tongue projecting into said areaand terminating in a concave are forming part of said periphery; a topin the form of a conically shaped member, and a book having a pluralityof pages each page having a circular diagram thereon and markingsdistributed thereabout such that said stamping may be inserted under oneside of any one page with said tongue extending over the top of saidpage to sandwich said page therebetween with the center of said circlecoinciding with the center of said circular diagram, whereby said topmay be positioned with a side surface cradled within said periphery ofsaid circle and spun on its side so that its apex comes to rest pointingto a particular one of said markings on said circular diagram.

6. A spinning .game and book according to claim 5, in which said tongueincludes an opening spaced inwardly from the center of said circle agiven distance, said circular diagram being positioned closer to theopposite side of said page than to said one side by said given distancewhereby said stamping may be repositioned to sandwich said opposite sideof said page therebetween so that said opening is positioned at thecenter of said circular diagram for supporting a pointer.

References (Jilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,902,775 Arrowsmith et al Sept. 8, 1959

1. A SPINNING GAME AND BOOK COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A STAMPING HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO BE FLEXED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID STAMPING; A POINTER MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY GUIDED AT LEAST IN PART BY SAID PORTION; AND A BOOK INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PAGE HAVING MARKINGS RADIALLY SPACED FROM A CENTER POINT, WHEREBY SAID STAMPING MAY BE INSERTED UNDER SAID PAGE WITH SAID PORTION EXTENDING OVER THE TOP OF SAID PAGE AND SAID POINTER MEANS ROTATABLY GUIDED AT LEAST IN PART BY SAID PORTION SO THAT IT 